Harvey T. Hampton
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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SEBASTIAN CO
Harvey T. Hampton, editor and co-proprietor of the Greenwood Democrat, is a
native of Logan County, Ark., born in 1855, and is the son of James H. and
Jane C. (McCormick) Hampton. James H. Hampton was born in Simpson County, Ky.,
November 2, 1822, and was of Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and
when a small boy went with his mother, Ann (Barker) Hampton, to Randolph
County, Ill., his father, John Hampton, having died in Kentucky when James H.
was quite small. James H. Hampton was married in Illinois in 1847, and two
years later he moved to Napoleon, Ark., where he remained for one year, and
then moved to Fort Smith. Four years later he moved to Booneville, or near the
town, where he died in 1877. His wife was of Irish descent, and was a native
of Randolph County, Ill., born in 1828, and died in 1861. After her death Mr.
Hampton married Mrs. Martha E. Spindle, nee McCormick. She is yet living.
Harvey T. Hampton is the fourth child by the first marriage, and was educated
in the Fort Smith District High-school at Booneville, Ark. He worked on the
farm until twenty-one years of age, and in 1876 entered a printing office,
where he worked as an apprentice for four years and as a journeyman for three
years. In 1880 he became editor of the Paris Express, at Paris, Ark., and in
1881 served as deputy circuit clerk of Logan County. >From 1882 to 1883 he
edited the Express. In 1884 he was elected tax assessor of Logan County, and
served two years. In 1886 he became a citizen of Greenwood, Ark., and November
1 of that year he purchased the Greenwood Times, changing the name to
Greenwood Democrat January 1, 1887. September 15, 1887, Jesse A. Bell became an
equal partner, and has since been half owner of the paper. The motto of the
Democrat is, “Under the Wholesome Influence of Democracy the Nation Prospers.”
It is a newsy sheet, and has a weekly circulation of from 800 to 1,000. In
1879 Mr. Hampton was united in marriage to Mattie V. Sipe, a native of Georgia,
born in 1855. To them were born five children: Norma, Fay, Ora, Hymenus T. and
Max C. On October 30, 1888, Mr. Hampton was appointed deputy circuit clerk and
recorder of Sebastian County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Master
Mason, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.